Multiple crashes on Interstate 81 close southbound, northbound lanes after snowstorm hits valley

Click Here to Recommend Story View larger image A wrecked tractor-trailer sits on Interstate 81 after a crash Saturday due to weather conditions involving numerous vehicles that shut down the northbound lanes of I-81 at the Narrow Passage Creek bridge near Woodstock. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Traffic stands still on the southbound lane of interstate 81 due to accidents on both sides that shut down all lanes on Saturday near Woodstock. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image First responders peel back the top a car to get to injured people after Saturday's crash in the northbound lane of Interstate 81 at the Narrow Passage Creek bridge near Woodstock. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Traffic slowly exits the south and northbound lanes of I-81 at Edinburg. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Traffic slowly exits at the Edinburg ramp on the north bound lane of Interstate 81 due to accidents that occurred on both sides of the Interstate shutting down all lanes on Saturday near Woodstock. Andrew Thayer/Daily

By Sally Voth - svoth@nvdaily.com

Multiple crashes during Saturday's snowstorm prompted Shenandoah County to open its emergency operations center.

As heavy snow fell, crashes involving dozens of vehicles led to closures on Interstate 81.

Shortly before 1 p.m., Virginia State Police were called to a multi-vehicle crash and a struck pedestrian on I-81 south at the 275 mile marker, state police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said in a news release.

"When troopers arrived on scene, it was determined that there were a series of five separate crashes involving a total of 27 vehicles, including eight tractor-trailers," the release says. "Both southbound lanes of I-81 were blocked, including the shoulders, as a result of the chain reaction crashes.

"The initial crash was caused when a southbound passenger vehicle spun out of control causing a tractor-trailer following behind to jackknife sideways in the road as it attempted to avoid striking the passenger vehicle."

That truck was then struck by another tractor-trailer, the release says.

"From this point, the southbound lanes of I-81 were blocked and approaching traffic had to suddenly stop, thus causing a chain reaction of four other crashes spanning approximately 500 feet," it says.

A truck driver, a 39-year-old man, got out of his truck, and was struck by two vehicles, according to the release. It says he had life-threatening injuries. Three other people, all without life-threatening injuries, were also taken to the hospital.

Two drivers were charged with going too fast for road conditions, and additional charges are pending, according to the release. Geller didn't have the identifications of the charged drivers or the injured.

Both southbound lanes were open by 7 p.m. Saturday, according to the release.

At about the same time as the chain-reaction pileups, a crash on the other side of Interstate 81 shut down the north lanes at mile marker 281, according to the Shenandoah County Department of Fire and Rescue. It involved three tractor-trailers and seven passenger vehicles, spokesman John Collins said.

The Shenandoah County Chapter of the American Red Cross opened a shelter for motorists involved in the crashes at Mt. Jackson Rescue and Fire station, but no one used it, he said.

The emergency operations center shut down shortly after 6 p.m., 41⁄2 hours after it opened, according to the news release.

Dispatchers in Clarke County, Winchester, and Front Royal reported only fender benders in their areas.

Road conditions prompted Shenandoah County to close their schools today. Winchester schools announced a one-hour delay.